Every year, tens of thousands of Iowans are feeding, housing, teaching, and treating millions of Africans. But they never get to meet the people they're helping.

KCCI's Eric Hanson and photojournalist Jesse Landolt took the trip to South Africa to show the difference Iowans are making in the lives of Africans every day.

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Every year, 20,000 Iowans package meals through Meals from the Heartland, a massive effort to feed the world's hungry by donating nutritious packets of protein, vitamins and rice that are made into casseroles. Two million of those meals are shipped annually to Blessman Ministries, an Urbandale-based charity serving children throughout South Africa. On January 28th, Blessman marked two milestones. First, they dedicated the Del Cramer Feeding Center, named after a Des Moines bridge contractor involved in many humanitarian efforts. The Del Cramer Center, near the town of Mokopane in Limpopo Province, will be the center of Blessman Ministries efforts in that area. Second, the January celebration marked the 20 millionth meal packaged by Meals from the Heartland. Children from the city of 35,000 were invited to mark the milestone with games and food from Iowa. 1,500 children showed up on donkey carts.

Dr. Jim Blessman, a retired Des Moines pain specialist, feeds two million South Africans a year with Iowa meals, but that's just the beginning. The Iowans also give away hundreds of pairs of eyeglasses to villagers who wouldn't have access to proper vision screening. On Monday, January 30th, a dozen Iowans outfitted 100 tribal villagers with eyeglasses under an African shade tree.

Each year, 150 Iowans join Blessman Ministries in South Africa, helping carry out their work. But the Iowans also can experience the lighter side of South Africa, including The Lion Walk. A South African resort offers the 1.5 mile hike with lions who've been trained to respect humans... but they're still lions. On Tuesday, January 31st, Eric Hanson and photojournalist Jesse Landolt joined three Iowans and five lions on the walk that would send shivvers up most people's spines.